Talking with Dr. Abdul El-Sayed
Back when, a conversation about America's "epidemic of insecurity"
Before Abdul El-Sayed became Michigan Democrats’ nominee for U.S. Senate, his main expertise was in public health. He has an M.D. and a Ph.D. (or to be precise, a D.Phil. from Oxford).
In 2020, my Princeton colleague Julian Zelizer and I spoke with Dr. El-Sayed about what he calls America’s “epidemic of insecurity.” We focused on his book “Healing Politics: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic,” which combines personal stories with history and science to show how inequality has created what he calls a political epidemic in the country.
Our conversation took place against a backdrop that many will remember: As the COVID-19 pandemic raged, and shortly after a Rose Garden (remember that place?) ceremony became a superspreader event that infected Donald Trump, members of his staff, and several Republican senators. It’s worth a listen!
Great to hear this. I'm originally from MI, and have been a supporter of his since he ran for governor in 2018. Was so happy to see he won the very important D Senate slot this week.